Leading plus size retailer Lane Bryan assembles plus-size, curvy fashion bloggers for inaugural event

Lane Bryant is bringing 13 of the Web’s top full-figure fashion authorities to its Columbus headquarters on June 3 to celebrate the unique intersection of fashion and social media.

During the day-long event, fashion bloggers hailing from New York, Chicago, Washington, DC and elsewhere will preview Lane Bryant’s fall and holiday sportswear collections, receive head-to-toe fashion and beauty makeovers and have access to Lane Bryant executives and merchants via exclusive presentations and round table discussions.

In addition, blogger attendees will have unprecedented one-on-one access to Lane Bryant model Lizzie Miller via interviews on Skype from Miller’s current London photo shoot.

Miller became an overnight sensation last fall after her unforgettable spread in Glamour magazine. Miller’s role as Glamour‘s “The Woman on Page 194,” helped drive the recent surge of dialogue about full-figure fashion and body acceptance in consumer media.

Most recently the Lane Bryant brand is known for the pop culture sensation that arose in the wake of ABC and FOX networks’ initial refusal to air its new Cacique® lingerie ad during popular shows, claiming it was too sexy for family hour. The controversy gave Lane Bryant a piece of viral video history when Advertising Age named the banned spot the “number one viral video in the world” for the week ending April 30, 2010. To date, the ad has garnered more than 4.8 million views on YouTube (see below).

“The ad controversy shows that now, more than ever, women have a voice online and Lane Bryant is eager to listen and engage with their conversations,” said Brian Woolf, President of Lane Bryant.  ”Because we have one of the most passionate and engaged fan bases of any retailer, it’s important that we harness these conversations to listen to what our audience wants and what they see as the next big trends in fashion, and tailor our products to them,” Woolf said.

The blogger conference is a continuation of Lane Bryant’s social media strategy, which includes its exclusive social networking site, Inside Curve, and its robust presence on Facebook and Twitter.

Lane Bryant believes its blogger conference also demonstrates that the brand is committed to fostering community among its most passionate fans in every venue.

“By bringing together some of the Web’s foremost authorities on full-figured fashion, we’re giving them not only the opportunity to connect with us, but to connect with each other,” commented Woolf.